23.08.16
Healthcare managers paint ‘patchy picture’ on implementation of NHS reviews
NHS organisations are still struggling to implement the findings of the Francis report on promoting good management and transparency, a survey has found.
Published in 2013 in response to the scandal at Mid Staffordshire Trust, the Francis report said that better leadership, improved transparency and accountability and more support for staff welfare were needed across the NHS to discourage failings in patient care.
The Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) published the results of a survey of its members’ success in implementing the review, as well as follow-up reviews by figures including Sir Bruce Keogh and Lord Carter, as well as Sir Robert Francis’ 2015 ‘Freedom to Speak Up’ report.
This ‘Review of Reviews’ provides scores out of 10 for how well NHS organisations are implementing each of the recommendations.
There was greater success in some areas than others. For example, NHS organisations were given a score of seven for placing patient care at the top of their agenda. However, improving accountability for senior managers received a score of four, whilst enhancement for education and training of managers received a three.
Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of IHM, said: “Seeing what needs to be changed and actually implementing those changes are two different things.
“As this report highlights, the level of this implementation is a patchy picture. However, there are heartening signs that a culture change is taking place within the NHS, with patient safety at its start, as well as a renewed recognition of the vital importance of the engagement and development of staff.”
Similarly, although trusts received a score of seven for making it clear that staff bullying would not be tolerated, they were only scored four for showing that they valued staff who raised concerns.
The latest NHS staff survey found that just 41% of respondents had reported the most recent incident of bullying or harassment at their workplace, indicating staff may still fear speaking out despite governmental attempts to promote whistleblowing.
Initiatives to protect NHS whistleblowers suffered a setback earlier this year when Dame Eileen Sills, the first national guardian for safeguarding whistleblowers, resigned after just two months. Dr Henrietta Hughes has now been appointed to the post.
The IHM report found that providers have made some progress in supporting their staff’s welfare, with a score of seven for promoting staff health and wellbeing and six for providing staff with helpful feedback. However, they only received a score of four for making staff feel “safe, supported, respected and valued”.
(Image c. Rui Vieira from PA Wire and Press Association Images)
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